GSCC admonishes Preston social worker

A Preston social worker has been admonished by the General Social Care Council for misconduct.

Jean Stearn failed to put a service user’s keys and money into the council’s safe and to record, in case notes, a number of occasions when she moved them, the GSCC’s conduct committee heard.

The committee found it was “wholly inappropriate” for Stearn to retain keys of a service user in her handbag and a container of coins in a filing cabinet.

Stearn had no previous disciplinary record with the GSCC, the committee in Blackpool heard. She showed insight, expressed regret, apologised and assured the committee that she had learned from the experience and improved her practice.

An admonishment, which amounts to a caution on the public record, was placed on Stearn’s entry to the social care register for six months.

Stearn has a right of appeal to the Independent Care Standards Tribunal.

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